Shelf structure



Feb. 3, 1959 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 W. L. SLATER SHELF STRUCTURE v 21 l I i a!v /6 E /i 10 i i s l 21 i z i i i I l 1 INVENTOR 4/41. 1-50 1. 5447-52 W. L. SLATER SHELF STRUCTURE Feb. 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 INVENTOR. Mu r52 A 544m.

W. L. SLATER SHELF STRUCTURE Feb. 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dc. 25, 1954 INVENTOR. Mun-e 4.54472? 5" z I ll W. L. SLATER SHELF STRUCTURE Feb. 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec 23, 1954 v y v 2 R:- M m! w N l m w Feb. 3, 1959 W. L. SLATER SHELF STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 INVENTOR. 4/44 r54 4.5441192 SHELF STRUCTURE Walter L. Slater, Hayward, Calif. Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,355

Claims. (Cl. 211-148) The invention relates to shelving systems such as used United States Patent r by various business establishments for storing and displaying of merchandise and more particularly to the type of shelving which is composed of a plurality of prefabricated parts arranged for assembly at the point of use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system of the character described wherein the design and construction of the various parts are arranged for fast and easy assembly in place at the point of use, with the use of but ordinary tools and skills and which will on assembly provide a strong, rugged, and ample load-bearing shelving structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf structure of the character above which is economical in its manufacture and assembly, and which is neat, trim and attractive in appearance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shelf structure of the character above having an integrated or over-all design permitting the prefabrication of and precise interfitting and interdependent support of all of the co-operating parts including a base support, upright standards, adjustable shelf brackets and a back or rear wall panel supporting means.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred forms of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a shelf structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view of the shelf structure taken substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the structure taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of several of the interfitting parts of the shelf structure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of other interfitting parts of the structure,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken similar to Figure 3 and showing in particular the development of the automatic locking means employed between parts of the structure,

Figure 7 is a vertical. cross-sectional view taken similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the modified form of the shelving structure.

Figure 9 is a plan sectional view of the modified form of shelving structure, and is taken substantially on the. plane of line 9-9 of Figure 7.

ias'iasts Patented Feb. 3, 1959 Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of apart of the modified shelf structure.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of another part of the modified shelf structure.

The shelving system of the present invention and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is composed of a new organization of prefabricated parts formed in such a manner as to provide when assembled a plurality of base supporting members 12 and 13, preferably of elongated form and adapted for mounting in spaced apart parallel position on the floor, and having a length dimension providing a substantial horizontal extension for stable mounting on the floor; a plurality of upright members 14, 15, 16 and 17 here arranged in pairs and detachably supported by the base members 12 and 13 in parallel vertical position; a plurality of shelf brackets 21, 22, 23 and 24 carried by the upright members 1417 and projecting horizontally therefrom in overlying relation to the length of the base supporting members 12 and 13, for underlying and supporting shelves 26 and 27 with the brackets arranged at the opposite ends of the shelves; and panel supporting means 28 detachably secured to the opposed sides of the upright members and formed to support one or more panels 29 and 30 in vertical planes defining a back wall for the shelves 26 and 27.

The cooperating form and structure of the upright members 1417 and vertically adjustable shelf brackets 2124 are more fully illustrated and described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 477,354, filed December 23, 1954, for Shelf Shelf Supporting Structure. Briefly, each of the upright members 1417 is preferably composed of. box-like or generally rectangular channel shaped cross-section, as best seen in Figure 4, including a rear wall 32, spaced side walls 33 and 34, which terminate at their forward extremities in a pair of front wall portions 36 and 37 which are spaced at their adjacent medial edges so as to define an elongated vertical slot 38 therebetween. The front wall portions 36 and 37 are bent rearwardly in the direction of the rear wall 32 at the slot 38 so as to define the opposite sides of the slot in spaced relation to the side walls 33 and 34, and are arranged so as to provide two vertical rows of horizontally spaced, horizontally extending teeth 41 and 42. The brackets 2124 are preferably of flat, L shaped form which are arranged for mounting Within the vertical opening 38 and are provided on their outer sides with forwardly opening sockets (not shown) dimensioned to receive one of the series of teeth 41 and 42 for supporting the brackets at a selectable elevation, with a forwardly projecting arm portion 43 extending through the opening and adapted to underlie and support one of the shelves 26 and 27.

Inaccordance with the present invention, the attachment of the panel supporting means 28 and the upright members 14-17 is here effected by the provision in the opposing side walls of the upright members of vertically elongated slots, and the provision on the panel supporting members 28 of horizontally extending and vertically depending tongues dimensioned for extension through the slots and interlocking with the side walls of the upright members, the members 28 being in turn formed to support one or more panels in vertical position at the back of the shelves 26 and 27. One of the opposing side walls of the upright members is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein it will be seen that upright member 16 is provided with vertically spaced slots 46 and 47, and upright member 17 is provided with similarly formed and positioned slots 48 and 49. In this form of the invention, the panel supporting means is composed U of upper and lower elongated members 51 and 52 arranged to extend between the opposed sides of the upright members 14, 15 and 16, 17, and are formed at their opposite ends with pairs of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending and vertically depending tongues 54, 55, 56, and 57 in the case of member 51; and 58, 59, 6t) and 61, in the case of member 512 As will behest seen from Figure 4, all of these tongues are of flat form arranged in vertical planes and dimensioned for insertion through the slots above described and for hooking over the side walls of the upright members for securing the panel supporting members 51 and 52 in parallel vertically spaced and horizontally extending position between the pairs of upright members.

The arrangement of parts illustrated in Figures 1 through 6 is designed for what is sometimes termed flush back panels, that is where a pair of panels 63 and 64, see Figure 3 of the drawings, are supported in spaced parallel vertical planes at the rear edges 66 and 67 of shelves 26 and 27. Accordingly, the lower panel supporting member 52 is formed with horizontally spaced, longitudinally extending channels 68 and 69 dimensioned to receive and support the bottom edges 71 and 72 of the panels 63 and 64; and the upper member 51 is formed with horizontally extending flanges 73 and 74 dimensioned for overlying and fastening to the upper edges 76 and 77 of the panels. Conveniently, the lower member 52 may be formed as a sheet metal channel having a top wall 78 and spaced depending side walls 79 and 80 with the channels 63 and 69 formed at the lower extremity of the side walls. The tongues 5861 may conveniently be formed integrally with and as extension of side walls 79 and 80. In a similar manner, the upper member 51 may be formed as a sheet metal channel having a top wall 82 and spaced depending side walls 83 and 84; and the tongues 54-57 may be fashioned integrally with and as extension of the side walls 83 and 84.

In accordance with the present invention, certain of the slots 4649 are formed to interlock with the engaged tongues 54-61 when the latter are pressed home in the slots so as to rigidly interlock the parts together. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 6, the upper slots 46 and 48, in the opposed side walls of the pairs of upright members, are so formed so that the top panel supporting member 51 will become locked upon the tops 76 and '77 of the panels 63 and 64 in the final assembly of the parts. As here shown, each of these slots 46 and 48 is formed with a lower horizontally enlarged and offset slot portion 86 capped by a horizontal top shoulder 87, and connected to the main portion 88 of the slot by a lower inclined wall 89, which forms a common bottom wall for the slot portions 86 and 38. Cooperating with this form of the locking slots, the engaged tongues are formed with an offset depending outer end portion 1 having a thickness and vertical length permitting the insertion of such portions through the main vertically elongated slot portion 38. Also, and as will be perhaps best seen from Figure 4, the portion 91 is spaced from the adjacent edge 92 of the panel supporting member to define a bottom opening slot 93 arranged to receive the side wall of the upright member, so that the portion 91 will hook over the inclined bottom wall 89 and interlock with the side Wall of the upright member. The neck portion 94- of the tongue, that is the portion lying between the upper end 96 of the slot and the top edge 97 of the tongue, has a vertical dimension just smaller than the vertical dimension of the offset slot portion 66, that is between the lower end of the inclined bottom wall 89 and-the top shoulder 87 so as to fit therein. Accordingly, when the tongues 54 and 55, for example, are inserted into the slots 46 and 48 and are then pressed downwardly therein, the neck portion 94 of the slot, shown in dotted lines in Figure '6, will be guided for vertical displacement in the main vertically elongated slot portion 88, while the lower edge 6 of the neck portion is laterally deflected by the subjacent inclined wall 89, and the inserted depending end 91 of the tongue is interlocked against the internal sur face of the side walls of the upright members, with such tongue portion positioned between the side wall and the inserted shelf brackets 21-24. As the top panel supporting member 51 is pressed further downwardly, the tongues 54 and 55 will thus be pressed under torsional strain and will spring laterally into the enlarged offset slot portion 86 as soon as the upper edge 97 of the tongues clear the top shoulder 87; after which, the neck portions 94 of the tongues become interlocked and trapped under the shoulder 87. This series of movements of tongues 54 and 55 into interlocked position in slots 46 and 48 isbest illustrated in Figure 6.

With the locking of the upper panel supporting member 51, as above described, the lower panel supporting member 52 may be attached with a straight, vertical drop in of the tongues 5861, since the lower member 52 is restrained against raising by the interpositioning of the panels 63 and 64 and the vertical restraint applied to the upper member 51. Accordingly, the lower slots 47 and 49 are merely fashioned in length to receive the tongues 58 and 59, which after insertion through the slots will drop to interlock the depending tongue portions 91 behind the side walls of the upright members. As will be seen from Figure 6, the lower slots 47 and 49 are disposed in vertical alignment with the offset slot portions 86 of the upper slots 46 and 48, so that the upper and lower panel supporting members 51 and 52 will be in vertically superimposed relation in finally assembled position.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 6, the base members 12 and 13 are each formed to engage and support a pair of upright members in back to back vertical position. For this purpose, the base members are formed with a centrally arranged, vertically extending socket 98, best seen in Figure 5, dimensioned to receive and support a pair of upright members 16 and 17 in back to back vertical position, as shown in Figure 4. Briefly, each of the base memhers is composed of a pair of open sided, box like, sheet metal sections 101 and 102 joined with overlapping open sides opposed so as to provide the elongated form of the member and to define between adjacent ends 103 and 104 and opposed sides 106 and 167 of the sections a rectangularly formed, vertically extending socket 98. If desired, the end walls 103 and 107 of the sockets may-be provided with aligned openings 108 and 109, which are arranged to register with aligned openings (not shown) provided in the lower ends of the upright members 16 and 17, for receipt of a fastening bolt or the like so as to retain the upright members in the.

sockets. Floor leveling screws 111 are preferably threaded through the lower walls 112 and 113 of the sections 101 and 102 for adjusting the horizontal position of the base member and correspondingly the vertical position of the upright members.

A modified form of the shelving system is illustrated in Figures 7 to ll of the drawings wherein the panel supporting means 28a is arranged to support a single panel 63a at substantially the center plane of a pair of back to back upright members 16a and 17a, as illustrated in Figures 7 through 10, whereby the single panel 63a forms a common back wall for the shelves 26a and 27a. In this form of the invention, the panel supporting means 28a may provide a back wall for a single upright member, as illustrated in Figure ll. In either case, one of the upright members 17:! is provided in one side wall 33:: thereof with a pair of elongated, and generally vertically aligned and spaced slots 48a and 49a, for receipt and interlocking with a pair of tongues 55a and 5% provided on the back of an elongated panel supporting part 28a. Preferably, the latter is, as here shown, of elongated channel shaped form having a back wall 116 and spaced parallel sides,

117 and 113 arranged for receipt of one edge of the panel 63a, the latter being recurable therein by the insertion of nails 121 and 122, or equivalent fastening means, through openings 119 and 120 provided in the side walls 117 and 118. The tongues 55a and 59a are arranged to project from the back wall 116 in substantially coplanar relation to one of the sides 118 so that the center line of the channel 28a will be substantially aligned with the center plane of the members 16a and 17a, see Figure 9, whereby the panel 63:; will be supported medially between the front walls 36a of the members. This arrangement is here conveniently effected by striking the tongues 55a and 59a out of what would normally be the back wall 116, so that the tongues extend as a continuation of the side 1125, see Figure 10. In this form of the invention, the form of tongues 55a and correspond with the form of the tongues in the first described embodiment, that is with a rearwardly projecting neck portion 94a and a spaced depending tongue portion 91a adapted for insertion through and hooking over the side wall 33a of the upright member 17a. Also, the slots 48a and 49a correspond in form to slots 48 and 49 of the first described embodiment, with the slot 48a having the offset interlocking form of slot 48. Accordingly, upon insertion of tongues 55a and 59a in the slots 48a and 49a and subsequent downward displacement of member 28a an interlocking action takes place in the manner described in connection with the first embodiment thereby rigidly locating the member 28a in vertical position against the side wall 17a.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 through 11, the base member 13a is composed of a length of dimensioned lumber, such as a length of 1" x 6", or 1" x 8", or the like, and the front and rear walls 36a and 32a are provided at their lower ends with aligned slots 124 and 125, as best shown in Figure 11, dimensioned for receiving the base member 13a therein with the side walls 33a and 34a mountedin opposed position to the opposite sides 126 and 127 of the base member 13a. Preferably, the side walls of the upright members are formed with openings for receiving a pair of fastening bolts 128 and 129 adapted for engagement with and securing in the base member 13a.

As will be understood, the slots 48a and 49a are positioned immediately adjacent the rear wall 32a of the upright members, so that the panel supporting member 28a is located between the two upright members, as ill-ustrated in Figures 7 to or at the back of the single upright member, as illustrated in Figure 11. In other words, with this form of panel supporting means, the upright members may be used either singly, as illustrated in Figure ll; or in pairs, as illustrated in Figure 7, in a shelving arrangement consisting of a single tier of shelves in the case of the single upright member, as illustrated in Figure 11, or a double tier of back to back shelves as in the case of the double upright'members, as shown in Figure 7.

As will be understood the essential parts may be repeated in the assembly so as to provide a desired length of the shelving set up. For example, additional base and upright members may be positioned in alignment with those depicted in Figure 2 of the drawings so that the shelves 225 and 27 may be extended over a desired length.

Also, bracket members may be superadded in each of the upright members to provide a desired number of shelves in each tier. Base shelves 131 may be mounted as here shown, see Figures 1 and 3, on the top walls of the base members and kick boards 132 may be fastened to the front ends of the base members in inset relation under the shelves 131 so as to complete the assembly.

I claim:

1. A shelf structure comprising, a base member having one dimension providing a substantial horizontal extenhaving a horizontally extending and vertically dependingtongue extended through said vertically elongated portion of said slot with the depending part of said tongue lying internally of said wall, and means guiding said panel supporting member for vertical displacement on said upright member thereby causing said tongue to be laterally deflected into said offset slot portion in trapped position under said shoulder, said panel supporting member being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane defining a back wall for said shelf.

, 2. A shelf structure comprising, a base member having one dimension providing a substantial horizontal extension for stable mounting on a floor, an upright member detachably secured to said base member and supported thereby in vertical position and being composed of channel shaped cross section having a rear wall portion and spaced side walls and a front wall having a medial vertically extending opening therein, a shelf bracket of flat plate-like form mounted through said opening and detachably secured to said upright member in spaced relation to said side walls and projecting horizontally through said opening in generally parallel overlying'relation to said base dimension for underlying and supporting a shelf, said side walls being formed with a slot there-- through having a vertically elongated portion and a subjacent inclined wall portion opposite a horizontally offset portion having a top shoulder, and a panel supporting member having a tongue projecting horizontally from one edge thereof and inserted through said slot, said tongue being formed with a depending part spaced from said edge and one of said upright member side Walls being engaged between said edge and part, said inclined slot wall functioning to deflect said tongue into said offset portion and in trapped position under said shoulder upon vertical displacement of said tongue in said slot, said panel supporting member being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane defining a back wall for said shelf.

3. A shelf structure comprising, an upright member adapted for supporting a horizontally projecting shelf bracket with the latter mounted in spaced relation to a side wall thereof, said side wall being formed with a pair of elongated vertically aligned slots, one of said slots being formed with a laterally enlarged offset end portion connected'by an inclined slot wall, and an elongated panel supporting part having a pair of longitudinally spaced fiat tongues inserted through said slots and each of said tongues having a depending portion spaced from an edge of said part and engaging said side wall therebetween, said inclined slot wall functioning to deflect the tongue engaged thereby into said offset slot portion upon vertical displacement of said part relative to said member with said tongues engaged in said slots, said part being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane providing a back wall for the shelf structure.

4. A shelf structure comprising, a pair of upright members of channel shaped cross section having rear walls and spaced side walls and front walls with the latter formed with vertically extending openings, a. plurality of shelf brackets carried by said upright members and mounted for vertical adjustment in said openings and projecting horizontally from said front walls for underlying and supporting shelves, a base supporting said upright members in back to back vertical position, one of said side walls being formed with a pair of elongated vertically aligned slots adjacent said rear walls, one of said slots being formed with a laterally enlarged offset end portion connected by an inclined slot wall, and an elongated panel supporting part formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced flat tongues inserted through said slots and each having a depending portion spacedfrom an edge of' said part and hooked over said side wall',:sai'd inclined slot wall functioning to deflect the tongue engaged thereby into said offset slot portion upon vertical displacement of said part with said tongues engaged in said slots, said part being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane adjacent and parallel to said rear walls so as to provide a common back wall for said shelves.

5. A shelf structure comprising, a pair of upright members of channel shaped cross section having rear walls and spaced side walls and front walls with the latter formed with vertically extending openings, a plurality of shelf brackets carried by said upright members and mounted for vertical adjustment in said openings and projecting horizontally from said front walls for underlying and supporting shelves, a base supporting said upright members in back to back vertical position, one of said side walls being formed with a pair of elongated vertically aligned slots adjacent said rear walls, one of said slots being formed with a laterally enlarged offset end portion connected by an inclined slot wall, and an elongated channel shaped part having a back and spaced parallel sides arranged for receipt of one edge of a panel and being formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced flat tongues inserted through said slots and being formed to project from said back in co-planar relation to one of said sides so as to locate said panel in a vertical plane at and parallel to said rear walls of said upright members to provide a common back wall for said shelves, each of said tongues having 21 depending portion spaced from said back and hooked over said side wall, said inclined slot wall functioning to deflect the tongue engaged thereby into said ofiset slot portion upon vertical displacement of said part with said tongues engaged in said slots.

6, In a shelf structure of the character described, an upright member of hollow form, a horizontal bracket carried by and extending from said member for mounting of a' shelf, one wall of said member being formed with a pair of vertically spaced and vertically elongated slots therethrough, one of said slots having a vertically elongated portion and a subjacent inclined wall portion opposite a horizontally offset portion having a top shoulder, and panel supporting means having horizontally extending and vertically depending tongues extended through said slots and interlocked with said wall, said means being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane defining a back wall for said shelf, said inclined wall portion functioning to deflect the tongue engaged thereby into said offset portion and in trapped position under said shoulder upon downward vertical displacement of said last mentioned tongue over said inclined wall portion.

7. In a shelf structure of the character described, an upright member of channel shaped eross-section having a rear wall and spaced side walls and a front wall having a medial vertically extending opening therein, a bracket carried by said member in horizontal position and extending through said opening and from the front wall of said member for the support of a shelf, each of said side walls being formed with a pair of vertically spaced and vertically elongated slots therethrough, one of said slots having a vertically elongated portion and a subjacent inclined wall portion opposite a horizontally offset portion having a top shoulder, and panel supporting means having horizontally extending and vertically depending tongues extended through said slots and interlocked with said side walls, said means being formed to support a pair of panels in a vertical plane at the opposite sides of said upright member and defining a back wall for said shelf; said inclined wall portions functioning to deflect the tongues engaged thereby into said offset portions and in trapped positions under said shoulders upon downward vertical displacement of said last mentioned tongues over said inclined wall portions.

8. In a shelf structure of the character described, upright supporting means of hollow form, a pair of backto-back horizontal brackets carried by said means and extending from opposite sides thereof for mounting backto-oack positioned shelves, a wall. of said means intermediate said sides being formed with a pair of vertically spaced and vertically elongated slots therethrough, one of said slots having a vertically elongated portion and a subjacent inclined wall portion opposite a horizontally offset portion having a top shoulder, and panel supporting means having horizontally extending and vertically depending tongues extended through said slots and interlocked with said wall, said means being formed to support a panel in a vertical plane between said shelves, said inclined wall portion functioning to deflect the tongue engaged thereby into said offset portion and in trapped position under said shoulder upon downward vertical displacement of said last mentioned tongue over said inclined wall portion.

9. A shelf structure comprising, a plurality of upright members each of channel shaped cross-section having rear walls and spaced side walls and front walls formed with vertically extending openings, a plurality of horizontally projecting shelf brackets carried by said upright members and mounted for vertical adjustment in said openings, a pair of base members each supporting a pair of upright members in back to back vertical position and with said base members spaced from each other, back to back positioned shelves supported on said brackets, the opposed side walls of said upright members each being formed with vertically spaced pairs of transversely spaced and vertically elongated slots, upper and lower elongated panel supporting members extending between said opposed side Walls and formed at their ends with pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally extending and vertically depending tongues inserted through said slots and hooked over said side walls and securing said panel supporting members in parallel vertically spaced and horizontally extending position between said pairs of upright members, the lower of said panel supporting members being formed with horizontally spaced longitudinally extending channels, and a pair of panels having bottom edges supported in said channels, the upper of said panel supporting members being formed with horizontally extending flanges overlying and fastened to the upper edges of said panels for securing the latter in spaced parallel vertical planes substantially flush with the back to back edges of said shelves,

10. A self structure comprising, a plurality of upright members each of channel shaped cross-section having rear walls and spaced side walls and front walls formed with vertically extending openings, a plurality of horizontally projecting shelf brackets carried by said upright members and mounted for vertical adjustment in said openings, a pair of base members each supporting a pair of upright members in back to back vertical position and with said base members spaced from each other, back to back positioned shelves supported on said brackets, the opposed side walls of said upright members each being formed with vertically spaced pairs of transversely spaced and vertically elongated slots, upper and lower elongated panel supporting members extending between said opposed side walls and formed at their ends with pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally extending and vertically depending tongues inserted through said slots and hooked over said side walls and securing said panel supporting members in parallel vertically spaced and horizontally extending position between said pairs of up right members, the lower of said panel supporting members being formed with horizontally spaced longitudinally extending channels, and a pair of panels having bottom edges supported in said channels, the upper of said panel supporting members being formed with horizontally extending flanges overlying and fastened to the upper edges of said panels for securing the latter in spaced parallel vertical planes substantially flush with the back to back edges of said shelves, the upper of said slots each being formed with a lower laterally enlarged offset portion connected by an inclined slot wall functioning to deflect the tongues engaged thereby into locked position in said ofiset slot portion upon downward displacement of said upper panel supporting members with the tongues thereof engaged in said upper slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Belcher Nov. 20, Sassure Dec. '19, Kotler Aug. 17, Vanderveld Dec. 25, Smart Dec. 23, Vanderveld Ian. 20, Vanderveld et a1. June 23, McMahan July 7, Little Dec. 8,

Sultan June 8, 

